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South Mountain ParkvsArizona Museum of Natural History
Both are endorsed by those who travel for a living. On balance, Arizona Museum of Natural History is the choice of most writers compared to South Mountain Park. Arizona Museum of Natural History scores 83 with positive reviews from 5 sources including Frommer's, Travel + Leisure and Fodor's.
South Mountain Park
Fodor's
Travel + Leisure
Michelin Guide
Afar Magazine
10919 S Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85042
From $0/night
Fodor's "This desert wonderland, the world's largest city park (almost 17,000 acres), offers a wilderness of mountain-desert trails for hikers, bikers, and horseback riders." Full review
Travel + Leisure "This 16,000-acre expanse may be the largest municipal park in the country, but you won’t find any softball fields or grassy concert venues here." Full review
Michelin Guide 1 Star
"Once a Hohokam hunting ground, later a mining camp and a Depression-era work camp, this municipal park offers impressive city views from Dobbins Lookout and 58 trails for hiking, biking and riding across its 25sq mi." Full review
Afar Magazine "South Mountain is one of those natural phenomena... not to be missed in the cooler times of year." Full review
Arizona Museum of Natural History Fodor's Travel + Leisure
Where Travel + Leisure
Frommer's
53 N. MacDonald Street, Mesa, AZ 85201
From $0/night
Fodor's "Kids young and old get a thrill out of the largest collection of dinosaur fossils in the state at this large museum where you can also pan for gold and see changing exhibits from around the world." Full review
Travel + Leisure "Located in the neighboring city of Mesa, this kid-friendly museum explores the Arizona’s natural and cultural history with plenty of hands-on, interactive, sound-and-light, try-this-on exhibits." Full review
Where "The history of Arizona and the world is relayed through such activities as gold-panning, viewing old caves and the Peralta Stone maps." Full review
Travel + Leisure "Explore the Southwest’s rich natural and cultural history, from sparkly minerals and prehistoric fossils to a reconstructed Native American village and territorial jail." Full review
Frommer's "This is one of the best museums in the Valley, and its wide variety of exhibits appeals to people with a range of interests. There are some animated dinosaurs...there’s also a Hohokam village." Full review
